Greg Chait, American fashion’s new prospect

The knitwear designer is the new CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund winner

It began as an attempt to help drum up enthusiasm for young designers after the US economy took a hit post 9/11. And judging by the stratospheric rise of past winners of the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund — Alexander Wang, Proenza Schouler, The Row — the mission has been successful.

This year's winner Greg Chait and his luxury knitwear brand The Elder Statesman have a high bar to cross.

Chait took the top spot, relegating footwear designer Tabitha Simmons and jewellery designer Jennifer Meyer (wife of actor Toby Maguire) to the runners-up pedestals. If the honour can propel his brand forward, as it did for Alexander Wang, Chait might soon see his cosy knits being worn, and coveted, by every IT girl and fly boy in urban US.

Most attending designers brought had a celebrity muse in tow. Jennifer Meyers had hubby Toby Maguire by her side, while Twilight star Ashley Greene was dressed in a lace number by Fashion Fund nominee Wes Gordon.